Alright y'all. You've seen my movements in print, but how would you really like to see OCBP in motion???
I've got a few videos I'd like to share with you. You know, a few moments I really wouldn't like to pass up.
So here we go!
The first one is an awesome moment, I'm sorry I missed. The crew here decided to go onto the boardwalk and start a flashfreeze, (like a flash mob, but everyone freezes), all thanks to our wonderful, Kenny! (Btw, the guy videotaping this is totally lying when he says that he doesn't know what's going on. John Gourley most certainly knows what's going on. lol.)
Another great moment we had was before house worship one Monday, when Leah Tatman organized a few of us (Joanne Mollo and Me) to mime to "Moving Forward", a great worship song by Israel. Never thought I could do miming before, but Leah said I did great! I'd actually love to do it again sometime.
And lastly, our overview of our lives thus far in Ocean City! Thanks for all your love and support! I've learned soo very much here! Hope you guys love this one too! :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
OCBP Update!!!
At the request of a close friend of mine, I am posting my most recent support letter on my blog. She thought that what I wrote in it, everyone should hear. To my readers, thanks so much for just taking some of your time to read some of what God has been doing in my life. You've all been so encouraging to me! :)
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Hello Everyone!
Can I first start off by saying that Jesus is so ALIVE this summer? So much has happened during this first half of the beach project, I can barely get it all in my mind. For those of you who have not known what I've been doing this summer, I have been living for about 5 weeks now in Ocean City, NJ, where I have been living among a community of fellow student leaders and learning how to become a more effective leader on campus. I have seen miracle after miracle manifest before my eyes! Miracles like watching Jesus restore our brokenness through the overflowing love he has placed in our hearts, renew our relationships with each other and friends and family outside of the project, as well as mold us and shape us into stronger leaders each and every day. I had a particular miracle happen to me where my wallet was stolen in Atlantic City. Not only did God provide over $100 for the week through the donations of a few generous students here at the project, but he also provided another $100 in one day through one job and another job I was recently hired at. The total amount of money I was given was more money than I had received since I’ve been here in Ocean City.
As I had mentioned before, the strongest emphasis here at the Beach Project is on the aspect of community. Our goal is to experience what the first century church experienced as they encountered Christ daily. I was telling one of my closest friends here at the project that I had never felt so at home before. Most places I go, I feel like I am a foreigner, and for one that has been abroad several times, feeling like a foreigner is very familiar to me. And yet here, everyone has embraced me with open arms, and best of all, we each are learning how to celebrate our differences. This is very touching to me especially, because most places I’ve been the situation is usually “Our way or the highway…” But here, every person has intentionally put the effort into seeing each person for who they are and embracing all aspects about them—both terrific and terrible.
As I continue to discover more and more about the characteristics of our Lord, Jesus, I am also gaining a deeper understanding of this “gospel” we preach every Sunday. The most important thing I have learned (and also the most highlighting lesson of the summer) is that I am “more sinful and broken than I would dare to admit, but I am more loved and cherished than I could dare to imagine”. This statement has forever changed my life and my view of the gospel. I now see that this gospel, this precious gift that we have been given to give away, is something I must not only preach to the world, but I must preach to myself…daily. Jesus has saved me from myself, and now I live to bring Him praise.
Thank you again for all your love and support! Thus far, you have helped me to raise over 60% of the cost to be here. If you would like to continue supporting me or have not supported me, there are several ways you can do so:
1. Give: You can go online to http://secured.ccojubillee.org and select under “Special Mission Initiative” the phrase “OCBP Donations”. From there type in the amount you would like to donate, click next, and fill out the credit card form. (Under “Comments” write, ”For Brittany Witcher”)
You can also mail a check to: OCBP, 5912 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Please make all checks payable to “Ocean City Beach Project” and in the memo line write “Brittany Witcher”.
2. Read and Visit: Get weekly updates from me about what’s going on in the project through my blog at www.stardustontheroad.blogspot.com or friend me on facebook at www.facebook.com/lightbeamer to get daily updates.
If you want to witness for yourself what is truly going on here at the “Ark” then come visit me at 632 Wesley Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226. There are guests constantly at the beach stopping by the house to see God at work. If you want to come down, give me a ring and I’ll let the group know you’re coming. We’d love to have you anytime!
3. Pray: As always, keep praying for us. Your prayers have been seriously at work here. Everyday, I’m seeing our praise board grow more than our prayer board, which means that our prayers are getting answered! Your prayers mean more to me than you know, and more to God than either of us will know.
Again, please consider jumping onto what God is doing here at the beach and watch not only our lives but your lives be transformed through our ever growing faith and dependence on Christ. Thanks again and have a great summer!
Yours,
Brittany Witcher
--
-------------
Hello Everyone!
Can I first start off by saying that Jesus is so ALIVE this summer? So much has happened during this first half of the beach project, I can barely get it all in my mind. For those of you who have not known what I've been doing this summer, I have been living for about 5 weeks now in Ocean City, NJ, where I have been living among a community of fellow student leaders and learning how to become a more effective leader on campus. I have seen miracle after miracle manifest before my eyes! Miracles like watching Jesus restore our brokenness through the overflowing love he has placed in our hearts, renew our relationships with each other and friends and family outside of the project, as well as mold us and shape us into stronger leaders each and every day. I had a particular miracle happen to me where my wallet was stolen in Atlantic City. Not only did God provide over $100 for the week through the donations of a few generous students here at the project, but he also provided another $100 in one day through one job and another job I was recently hired at. The total amount of money I was given was more money than I had received since I’ve been here in Ocean City.
As I had mentioned before, the strongest emphasis here at the Beach Project is on the aspect of community. Our goal is to experience what the first century church experienced as they encountered Christ daily. I was telling one of my closest friends here at the project that I had never felt so at home before. Most places I go, I feel like I am a foreigner, and for one that has been abroad several times, feeling like a foreigner is very familiar to me. And yet here, everyone has embraced me with open arms, and best of all, we each are learning how to celebrate our differences. This is very touching to me especially, because most places I’ve been the situation is usually “Our way or the highway…” But here, every person has intentionally put the effort into seeing each person for who they are and embracing all aspects about them—both terrific and terrible.
As I continue to discover more and more about the characteristics of our Lord, Jesus, I am also gaining a deeper understanding of this “gospel” we preach every Sunday. The most important thing I have learned (and also the most highlighting lesson of the summer) is that I am “more sinful and broken than I would dare to admit, but I am more loved and cherished than I could dare to imagine”. This statement has forever changed my life and my view of the gospel. I now see that this gospel, this precious gift that we have been given to give away, is something I must not only preach to the world, but I must preach to myself…daily. Jesus has saved me from myself, and now I live to bring Him praise.
Thank you again for all your love and support! Thus far, you have helped me to raise over 60% of the cost to be here. If you would like to continue supporting me or have not supported me, there are several ways you can do so:
1. Give: You can go online to http://secured.ccojubillee.org and select under “Special Mission Initiative” the phrase “OCBP Donations”. From there type in the amount you would like to donate, click next, and fill out the credit card form. (Under “Comments” write, ”For Brittany Witcher”)
You can also mail a check to: OCBP, 5912 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Please make all checks payable to “Ocean City Beach Project” and in the memo line write “Brittany Witcher”.
2. Read and Visit: Get weekly updates from me about what’s going on in the project through my blog at www.stardustontheroad.blogspot.com or friend me on facebook at www.facebook.com/lightbeamer to get daily updates.
If you want to witness for yourself what is truly going on here at the “Ark” then come visit me at 632 Wesley Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226. There are guests constantly at the beach stopping by the house to see God at work. If you want to come down, give me a ring and I’ll let the group know you’re coming. We’d love to have you anytime!
3. Pray: As always, keep praying for us. Your prayers have been seriously at work here. Everyday, I’m seeing our praise board grow more than our prayer board, which means that our prayers are getting answered! Your prayers mean more to me than you know, and more to God than either of us will know.
Again, please consider jumping onto what God is doing here at the beach and watch not only our lives but your lives be transformed through our ever growing faith and dependence on Christ. Thanks again and have a great summer!
Yours,
Brittany Witcher
--
Thursday, July 7, 2011
God to the Rescue
So I'm not gonna lie. This week was rough. From missing work this Saturday and surviving on practically nothing, to my computer no longer turning on, to my wallet getting stolen in Atlantic City...I have definitely been tested this week. It's been very humbling and several times this week, my buried emotions have gone raw. But at the same time, I have felt God holding me more than ever before. My very close friend, Kynesa, came up to visit me for the weekend and I was so very happy to see her. Even though I have been feeling like I'm living on the edge of poverty, I have seen God's promises at work in my life. He's definitely been living up to His promise in Psalm 37:25: "I have been young and now I am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." I have not been forsaken. The community here has been wonderful and providing a lot of my needs. I am not "begging bread". Even though a lot of my funds are more tight than usual, I am not starving. God's provided for me in miraculous ways, ways that I still can't help but marvel at.
More than anything however, I am most amazed at how God's helping me respond to my situations this week. When I missed work on Saturday, I thought I lost my job for good. I called up my boss and apologized. She not only forgave me, but she also told me that I could continue to work with her. When my computer, what I've considered in the past as my main source of survival, stopped working, I not only was able to keep a cool head, but I was able to go to get excellent help and service at the Apple store and get it fixed for about $300. While I was in Atlantic City however, my wallet was stolen. I not only was able to check my bank accounts and see that my money was not taken, but I was able to close my accounts and keep a security watch out for the people who have my wallet. Best of all, my first response to this entire situation (besides saying, "Oh, dread...") was, "Well, Lord, bless'em..."
He showed me that, unconsciously, I'm fulfilling God's Word, and the only effort I had to put forth was to stop, pray, and wait. He was showing me that to be successful in His kingdom, the best thing we could possibly do is get out of the way, and let Him rescue us. I prayed for the person who stole my wallet and could not think any bad thoughts of resentment or unforgiveness toward them. God gave me clear thinking and showed me that everything in my wallet can be replaced. I cannot be replaced. Throughout the entire situation, I was safe, and no hurt, or harm came to me. My money in my bank accounts wasn't touched, and I wasn't overdrawn in any way. The only thing of true value to me was my driver's license and other IDs, but even those can be replaced.
When I came back to the Ark yesterday, I felt at peace with my stolen wallet, but I was still questioning why I had trouble with providing the basics for myself. Later that night in my Gospel-Centered Life group as I poured out my heart to the group and told them about how I struggled with dealing with failure when I typically am a successful person, God gave me a new type of peace, one that showed me that He's got me right where He wants me: poor in spirit so I can gain the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3).
I have found encouragement and solace in Psalm 25 and have been meditating on it for the past few days. Because of this, I have come to see that God is my superhero, and He is always rescuing me from my troubles.
More than anything however, I am most amazed at how God's helping me respond to my situations this week. When I missed work on Saturday, I thought I lost my job for good. I called up my boss and apologized. She not only forgave me, but she also told me that I could continue to work with her. When my computer, what I've considered in the past as my main source of survival, stopped working, I not only was able to keep a cool head, but I was able to go to get excellent help and service at the Apple store and get it fixed for about $300. While I was in Atlantic City however, my wallet was stolen. I not only was able to check my bank accounts and see that my money was not taken, but I was able to close my accounts and keep a security watch out for the people who have my wallet. Best of all, my first response to this entire situation (besides saying, "Oh, dread...") was, "Well, Lord, bless'em..."
He showed me that, unconsciously, I'm fulfilling God's Word, and the only effort I had to put forth was to stop, pray, and wait. He was showing me that to be successful in His kingdom, the best thing we could possibly do is get out of the way, and let Him rescue us. I prayed for the person who stole my wallet and could not think any bad thoughts of resentment or unforgiveness toward them. God gave me clear thinking and showed me that everything in my wallet can be replaced. I cannot be replaced. Throughout the entire situation, I was safe, and no hurt, or harm came to me. My money in my bank accounts wasn't touched, and I wasn't overdrawn in any way. The only thing of true value to me was my driver's license and other IDs, but even those can be replaced.
When I came back to the Ark yesterday, I felt at peace with my stolen wallet, but I was still questioning why I had trouble with providing the basics for myself. Later that night in my Gospel-Centered Life group as I poured out my heart to the group and told them about how I struggled with dealing with failure when I typically am a successful person, God gave me a new type of peace, one that showed me that He's got me right where He wants me: poor in spirit so I can gain the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:3).
I have found encouragement and solace in Psalm 25 and have been meditating on it for the past few days. Because of this, I have come to see that God is my superhero, and He is always rescuing me from my troubles.
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